Top WR waits as new Cats report

UA cornerback Trevin Wade has been selected one of 35 preseason candidates for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation’s top defensive back.

While the rest of the Arizona Wildcats' newcomers report for
training camp today, Dexter Ransom will be taking the most
important test of his young life.

His college football eligibility hangs in the balance.

Ransom, a transfer from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, must
get a "C" or better in his final summer school course to qualify
academically at the UA. The Wildcats open camp Thursday morning at
Rincon Vista.

Ransom has been battling academic issues all summer. He sent in
the final paperwork for his class, a through-the-mail math course,
more than a month ago. When it wasn't received, Ransom was forced
to re-do the work.

Ransom, 6 feet 4 inches and 217pounds, is expected to be the
Wildcats' top incoming receiver. He caught 55 passes for 1,146
yards and 17 touchdowns in two season at Blinn College. He chose
Arizona over offers from 13 other schools, including Auburn and
Oklahoma.

Ransom should know his fate within the next few days.

"I should get my grade back on Wednesday," he said. "I'm looking
at probably (leaving) either late Wednesday afternoon or sometime
this week."

Wade on Thorpe list

Cornerback Trevin Wade has been named a preseason candidate for
the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive
back.

The Thorpe Award's 35-person watch list, released Monday,
includes just one other Pac-10 player, UCLA's Rahim Moore.

The Thorpe Award committee will narrow the list to either 10 or
12 semifinalists in early November, and three finalists in late
November. The winner will be announced during the Home Depot
College Football Awards Show in December.

Wade, a junior, is expected to be one of the Pac-10's top
defensive players again this season. In two seasons, one as a
starter, Wade has amassed nine interceptions, 18 pass deflections
and a forced fumble.

Wade is the third Wildcat to make a preseason watch list. Center
Colin Baxter is a candidate for the Outland Trophy, given to the
nation's top lineman. Nick Foles has been connected to the Davey
O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback.

Extra points

• The Wildcats aren't scheduled to christen the Jimenez Practice
Facility until Aug. 24, the second day of fall classes. The UA will
spend training camp at Rincon Vista and on the Fort Huachuca army
installation.

• Ryan Walters, a former standout at Colorado, has joined the
team as a defensive graduate assistant. Co-defensive coordinator
Greg Brown coached Walters at CU from 2004 to 2008.